Fireplace heater



Sept. 8, 1931. A. J. HALLERT FIREPLACE HEATER Filed March 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. flZ/IZ fim I Sept. 8, 1931. 1 A J, HALLERT 1,822,091

FIREPLACE HEATER Filed March 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept 8 1931 UNITED STATES v ALBERT J. HALLERT, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA FIREPLACE HEATER Application filed March 17, 1930. Serial No. 436,350.

The invention relates to an air heating and circulating device for installation 1n fireplace recesses and wherein either fuel gas or solid fuel may be burned as a source of heat,

A general object of the invention is to provide for a gas-fire heating of auxiliary aireheating and circulating members arranged for removable disposal in fireplaces.

Another object is to provide such structure for said members as to insure a maximum use of heat generated in the fireplace.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described wherein gaseous and/ or solid fuels may be-burned with equal readiness.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment of the invention whlch is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fire place having installed therein a heating device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the installation.

Figure 3 is a plan section at 3 3 in F1gure 1. e

Figure 1 is a vertical section at 44 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section at 5-5 in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an elevation of a member of as the device, the view being taken from the air inlet side of the member.

Figure 7 is an enlargement of a portion of the sectional showing of Figure 5.

The present invention is embodied in the structure of a pair of air heating and circulating members 8 and 9 for disposal in a fireplace opening 11 of a room. Said members, it is noted, are formed as hollow slabs of heat-conducting material, such as cast iron, and are arranged to extend along the opposite side walls 12 of the recess, with forward portions 13 extending from the recess, said members being similar but of com plementary structure whereby their corresponding parts are opposite. Horizontally directed inlets 14 are provided at the bottoms of the portions 13, while upwardly directed outletslo are provided at the tops of the portions 13. Preferably, and as shown, the portions 13 are formed to provide casings for at least the side edges of the fireplace opening, and the inlets 14 are provided in the outer side portions 15 of said casings. Baflles 16, Figures 5 and 6, are preferably provided in the cavities 17 of the members whereby to direct the air therethrough in a tortuous path, the heating of the members 8 and 9 being arranged to heat the airtherein and so effect and maintain a convection circulation of the room air while heating the same.

The particular design and disposal of the members 8 and 9. provides for a most eflicient distribution of heat generated within the fireplace recess, and is disclosed and discussed in greater detail in my copendin application Serial Number 431,096, filed February 25, 1930, wherein said structure is more specifically set forth as arranged for utilizing heat solely from a source centrally disposed in the recess. The present invention, it is noted, provides for the use of a gaseous fuel'while permitting the provision of a fire of solid fuel centrally in the recess whereby solid and gaseous fuels may be burned therein either selectively or simultaneously,

To provide for a most efficient application of heat originating in the fire place for heating the members 8 and'9, said members are'provided with fin-like elements 18 extending transversely from the opposed faces 19 of the members. v The fins 18 extend generally horizontally and function as baffles to retard an upward convection circulation of air along each face 19 whereby the upward movement of air heated at said face is hindered and the heat may be taken up by the member and fins for conduction to the circulating air within the members. Since the aforesaid conduction is of major importance, the fins 18 are preferably provided as integral portions of their members.

To still further utilize the fin elements 18,

said elements are preferably. disposed to slope somewhat downwardly from the face 19 and the inverted V-channel 21 defined beneath them is sloped slightly upwardly and rearwardly. As shown, the fins 18 are arranged in horizontal rows whereby their hereinbefore described obliquity to a face 19 is arranged to guide air moving upwardly along the face 19 against said face and in a zig-zag and more or less rearward direction. The rearward guidance of air moving along a face 19 is seen to operate to assist in preventing an escape of fumes or smoke into the room. WVith the fin structure now described, it is obvious that a maximum use of heat directed against the members 8 and 9 is made for heating air in the said members.

Shelf-like brackets 22 extend from the face 19 below the lower row of fins 18 and horizontally across said face to provide a support for a gas burner 23. As shown, each burner 23 comprises a tubular member closed at one end and formed to provide an air-mixer 2st at the other end through which un-aerated gas is arranged to'be discharged from a valved pipe 25. A row of nozzles 26 is provided along the upper burner side whereby to discharge jets of fuel gas upwardly toward the baflies 18 for producing an upwardly directed fire. As shown, each bracket 22 is formed to provide a troughlike depression 27 for the supporting reception of the burner.

The brackets 22 are also utilized to support a grate 28 on which to build a fire of solid fuel. As shown, the brackets 22 are formed with outwardly directed flange portions 29 at their bottoms and along their outer sides whereby they are arranged to jointly support the grate 28 in operative position from and between the members 8 and 9. The brackets 22 preferably comprise integral parts of the members, as is shown.

It will now be noted that the device described provides for either a 'as fire or a solid-fuel fire in the fireplace and is arranged to utilize a part of the heat from such a fire to heat the circulated air within said members.

Furthermore, if desired, both fires may be simultaneously lit. And it is to be further noted that the device is particularly arranged for installation in existing fireplaces without alteration thereof whereby the provision of the two members 8 and 9 and the grate 28 is all that is required, said members and grate all being designed to be formed as cast elements.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following 1. In combination with an open fireplace recess, an air heating and circulating means for disposal in said fireplace recess comprising a hollow slab-like member of heat-conducting material arranged for removable and upright placement adjacent a Wall of the recess and having inlet and outlet openings for the convectional circulation of air therethrough, a gas burner mounted adjacent the bottom of an exposed face of said member, and baflle elements extending from said face of the member whereby to hinder the convectional flow of heated air from above said burner and direct said air against said face.

2. In combination with an open fireplace recess, an air heating and circulating means for disposal in said fireplace recess comprising a hollow slab-like member of heat-conducting material arranged for removable and upright placement adjacent a wall of the recess and having inlet and outlet openings for the convectional circulation of air therethrough, a gas burner mounted adjacent the bottom of an exposed face of said member to extend horizontally therealong, and baffle means at said face of the member whereby to hinder the convectional fiow of heated air from above said burner and along said face, said means being integral with said member.

3. In combination with an open fireplace recess, an air heating and circulating means for disposal in said fireplace recess comprising a hollow slab-like member of heat-conducting material arranged for removable and upright placement adjacent a wall of the recess and having inlet and outlet openings for the convectional circulation of air therethrough, a gas burner mounted adjacent the bottom of an exposed face of said member to extend horizontally therealong, a bracket on said member supporting said burner, and bafiie elements extending from said face of the member and operative to hinder a convectional flow of heated air from above said burner and direct said air against said face, said bracket and elements integral with said member.

4. In combination with an open fireplace recess, an air heating and circulating means for disposal in said fireplace recess of a room comprising a hollow slab-like member of heat-conducting material arranged for iio iii

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upright placement adjacent a side wall of the recess and having inlet and outlet openings for the convectional circulation of the room air through the member, a gas burner mounted adjacent the bottom of an exposed face of said member in the recess, and bafile means extending from said face of the memher and operative to hinder the convectional flow of heated air therealong and direct said flow generally rearwardly along said face.

5. In combination with an open fireplace recess, an air heating and circulating means for operative disposal in said fireplace recess comprising hollow members of heatconducting material arranged for upright placement adjacent the opposite side Walls of the recess and each provided with inlet and outlet openings for the convectional circulation of the room air through the member, gas burners for disposal adjacent the bottoms of the opposed faces of said members to extend horizontally therealong, a grate for solid fuel for horizontal disposal in said recess and between the said members, and integral brackets on said members for supporting said burners in operative position and cooperative to entirely support said grate on and between the members.

6. In combination with an open fireplace recess, an air heating and circulating means for operative disposal in said fireplace recess comprising a hollow member of heatconducting material for upright placement adjacent a wall of the recess, a gas burner w for disposal in the recess and adjacent said member for heating the same, a grate for supporting a fire of solid fuel in the recess, and means on said member to support said burner and grate in their operative positions, said burner and grate being arranged for selective and/or simultaneous use.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ALBERT J. HALLERT. 

